Final Exam Review

What is the recipe for evolution?

Variation + heritable traits + differential fitness.

What are common misconceptions about evolution?

Individuals evolve; evolution is 'just' a theory; organisms evolve on purpose; evolution ≠ origin of life.

Why is Mendel important in biology?

He explained inheritance rules, allowing natural selection to work.

What is the most inclusive taxonomic rank?

Kingdom.

What is binomial nomenclature?

Genus capitalized, species lowercase, italicized.

Do phylogenetic trees explain the origin of life?

No, they do not explain the origin of life.

What does the tree trunk in a phylogenetic tree represent?

A single common ancestor.

What are prokaryotes?

Organisms without a nucleus, including Archaea and Bacteria.

What are eukaryotes?

Organisms with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

What is the most important biological process?

Carbon fixation.

What are characteristics of viruses?

They don't grow, assemble progeny, and use host metabolism.

How are prions transmitted?

By eating infected nervous or muscle tissue.

What are bacteriophages?

Viruses that infect bacteria and are potential antibiotic alternatives.

What are prezygotic barriers?

Temporal, habitat, behavioral, mechanical, and gametic barriers.

What are postzygotic barriers?

Hybrid inviability and hybrid sterility.

What is stabilizing selection?

A process that decreases genetic variance.

What is horizontal gene transfer?

Non-reproductive DNA transfer.

What is convergent evolution?

The evolution of similar traits in unrelated species.

What is the founder effect?

A form of genetic drift observed in populations like the Amish with polydactyly.

What happens when fungi are lost from an ecosystem?

Decomposition decreases, plant growth declines, and organic matter gets trapped.

What is the role of seedless plants?

They are early colonizers and indicators of aquatic environments.

What distinguishes gymnosperms from angiosperms?

Gymnosperms have naked seeds, while angiosperms have flowers and protected seeds.

What is the difference between fruit and vegetable?

Fruit comes from a flower and contains seeds.

What are meristems?

Regions of plant growth: apical (length), lateral (width), intercalary (regrowth).

What is the significance of biogeography?

It explains evolution patterns and similarities among distant regions.

What are density-dependent factors?

Predation, disease, competition, and waste.

What does competitive exclusion mean?

Two species competing for the same resource cannot coexist.

What is biomagnification?

The increase of toxins at higher trophic levels.

What is ecosystem resilience?

The ability of an ecosystem to return to equilibrium.